President Of NOUS INT’L, USA Faults FG On Scrapping of Niger Delta Ministry

The Ogoni – American based Organization, National Union of Ogoni Students International NUOS INTL USA has condemned the recent scrapping of  the Niger Delta Development Ministry by the  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration decision as not only a counter productive attempt to cripple Niger Delta  but a gross violation of the Niger Delta and Nigerian national security, adding that such bad governance insensitive decision are probably why there might not be OIL resumption in Ogoniland any time soon.

The President of NOUS INT’L, USA, Mr Pius Nwinee, said in a statement dated Sunday November 10, 2024 that scrapping the Ministry of Niger Delta Development instead of cutting down the allowances and salaries of the members of the National Assembly or selling the Presidential yacht is not only an unprecedented assault on the people of the Niger Delta, but a calculated attempt to promote monopoly in the oil sector.

According to the President of NOUS INT’L, USA, “it is quite obvious that the Nigerian government is insensitive to the plight of the people of the Niger Delta.”

While stressing that it is not right to kill the chicken that lays the golden eggs, he said that time has come for the whole country to address the issues affecting the people of the Niger Delta.

It is obvious that some people have now taken over the oil sector and benefitting from the removal of fuel subsidy.

Recall that the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, formerly Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA) ,was created on September 10, 2008 to promote and coordinate policies for the development, peace and security of the Niger Delta Region. 

The MNDA is to serve as the primary vehicle for the execution of Government’s plans and programmes for rapid socio-economic development of the Region. 

It is also expected to formulate and execute plans, programmes and other initiatives as well as coordinate the activities of Agencies, Communities, Donors and other relevant Stakeholders involved in the development of the Niger Delta Region.

“Over the years, we have had to bear the suffering that comes with oil prospecting in the Niger Delta. It is not only that our farmlands are destroyed, pollution caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta has led to loss of human lives, loss of revenues and degradation of our ecosystem.

“Our people have been left to suffer amidst plenty. It is no longer news that Nigeria depends on oil for her survival, but it is baffling that the land where oil is being prospected is left to suffer against what happens in other parts of the world 

“When the Ministry of Niger Delta Development was created then, we were happy that respite would come to our people after several years of neglect. 

“While we cannot say that the Ministry lived up to expectations, at least, we were expecting that in the nearest future, the Ministry would listen to the yearnings of the people of the Niger Delta and bring about the needed development in the area. 

“It is quite unfortunate that rather than repositioning the Ministry, we are now being rewarded with the scrapping of the Ministry. This is not acceptable and we are calling on the government to revert to what we used to have. 

“This is a Ministry with prospects to take development to the Niger Delta and it is never imagined that such a Ministry would be scrapped at a time we were all calling for the repositioning of the Ministry for efficiency, effectiveness and better performances,” the statement read.

Mr Nwinee wondered what the people of the Niger Delta did to deserve “this kind of inhuman treatment from a democratically elected government that ought to seek the development of such a sensitive and important region.”

According to him, time has come for all progressive Nigerians to rise to the occasion and save the region from an impending doom.

He stressed that what the people of the Niger Delta are experiencing is “injustice of the highest order” that have reduced our people to pauper and left them unchartered for,” wondering, “what did we do to deserve this.”

“For how long are we going to continue with the degradation of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta in particular? May be God will use us to set the ball rolling for the government to do the right things and allow all parts of the nation to develop. 

“What we need now is for us to look at what is wrong with us as a people so that we can know how to move forward to have a better society rather than scrapping the Ministry of Niger Delta Development. Ogoniland deserves the best. 

“We wish to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invite the leaders of Ogoniland for discussion with a view to ameliorating our suffering at this critical period because nations that practise democracy all over the world do the best for their people.

“Issues affecting Ogoniland as well as the Niger Delta and how to resolve them would be discussed at the meeting at this time that everyone is talking about the difficulties in the nation,” he said.